AKA.....MORE SPEED !!!

 

You are right that the cooling system will more than compensate up to a point. However, if the compensation is acheived by running the fans more or running them with invreased amperage, power will be lost to the engine.

 

I am mechanical design engineer and I deal very often with cooling our products while mainting EMI compliance (we need to have perforated conductive material so as to not allow electro-magnetic radiation to escape). A mesh is deadly for airflow. If the meshes you guys are looking at are 50% open, that means you are blocking close to half the amount of air coming in.

Now, beats me how much the car needs. Maybe only 25%, maybe 75%. Bottom line is, a mesh is not good for airflow. As far as air turbulance as a result of the air passing through the openings, that is probably inconsequential.

For cooling purposes, turbulence is good. For aerodynamical purposes, you want laminar flow (usually). Remember, golf ***** have dimples to CREATE turbulence for better aerodynaimcs. But of course, the aerodynamics of a ball versus a moving car are vastly different. You want laminar flow over a car's surface.

The reasons cars have meshes is simply to protect components from debris. Period. Or at least the functional reason for meshes is to protect from debris. That is why race cars have them (Cup car). You don't wanta chunk of rubber come at you at 100mph+ and putting a hole in the radiator.

 

The simple answer to your question: I had a Boxster S and had a bra on it. The bra had screen. I overheated on the track, came in cut the screen out of the bra, went back out on the track and the car did not overheat. All of this within 1/2 hour. It is that simple. The car never overheated on the highway with the screen on the bra.